the nature imagery in this song is stunning. "you" has a deep connection with the woods, but their treatment towards it is juxtaposed. it is first seen cut and charcoaled, their "empire", cradled in arms. this attributes the wood to "you" like mother to child, protector to protected. they smear the ashes over them, what comes from the burnt wood -- i say they are taking the blame for what they did that caused the wood to burn in the first place. something happened that winter that made "you" burn the wood, and they now regret it, because they were supposed to protect it. they run to the forest (a "cold sanctuary", meaning all warmth or fire has gone from the place, because of "you"'s actions, but it is still a sacred place), where the "last breath of snowflake" is "swallowed beneath", meaning "you" has repented enough for whatever happened that winter to remain just "a swollen memory" -- it has passed.
the nature imagery in this song is stunning. "you" has a deep connection with the woods, but their treatment towards it is juxtaposed. it is first seen cut and charcoaled, their "empire", cradled in arms. this attributes the wood to "you" like mother to child, protector to protected. they smear the ashes over them, what comes from the burnt wood -- i say they are taking the blame for what they did that caused the wood to burn in the first place. something happened that winter that made "you" burn the wood, and they now regret it, because they were supposed to protect it. they run to the forest (a "cold sanctuary", meaning all warmth or fire has gone from the place, because of "you"'s actions, but it is still a sacred place), where the "last breath of snowflake" is "swallowed beneath", meaning "you" has repented enough for whatever happened that winter to remain just "a swollen memory" -- it has passed.